Māori All Blacks For Japan XV 2026 Match Announced – Match Preview

rugbyasia247 Posted On June 25, 2026

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Tamati Ellison is the Head Coach of the Māori All Blacks, and he has named his 26-man squad for the Japan XV match on June 27th at Paloma Mizuho Stadium in Nagoya City, Aichi Prefecture.

Photo Credit – Mark Zhuang – Japan XV vs Māori All Blacks 2025 – Several Updates to the article.

The former All Blacks assistant coach, Ellison, left his role with the departure of Scott Robertson as Head Coach, alongside Bryn Evans and Scott Hansen. His assistant coaches are Greg Feek and Marty Bourke.

They have selected six uncapped players as part of the 2026 touring squad: JJ Pokai & Reon Paul (Chiefs), Adam Lennox (Highlanders), Tahlor Cahill (Crusaders), and Torian Barnes & Payton Spencer (Blues). Spencer is the son of former Blues and All Blacks legend Carlos Spencer.

Centre Bailyn Sullivan will captain the side and the Head Coach said, “Bailyn is a player who leads through his actions on the field. He represents the style of rugby we want to play as the Māori All Blacks, fast, physical and built around the way we want to express ourselves.

He made his debut for the Māori All Blacks in 2022 and has grown into an experienced member of this group. He has been able to learn from the leaders who have come before him, and now it’s his time to step forward.”

The Japanese and the Māori All Blacks have faced each other six times since their first encounter in 2008, but the three most recent matches were played as JAPAN XV.

The overall record is 1 win and 5 losses for Japan; their only win was on July 6, 2024, at Toyota Stadium, with Eddie Jones as head coach, and a result of 26-14. The result in 2025 was a comprehensive 53-20 for the Māori All Blacks.

Tamati Ellison said, “This is a special team with a unique purpose. The Maori All Blacks jersey carries a lot of history, and every player who puts it on becomes part of that story. We wanted to recognise the players who have represented this team before and understand what it means to wear this jersey, while also creating opportunities for the next group coming through.”

He added, “Once you have worn this jersey, you are always part of this team. That connection stays with you, and having players return who understand the expectations, the culture and the responsibility of representing Māori rugby is really special.

These players have earned their opportunity. They have shown the qualities we look for in Maori All Blacks players, not just through their rugby, but through who they are and what they represent.”

The Japan & Brave Blossoms Training Camp Squad was announced earlier in June, but has already seen several changes to the squad’s composition and the Japan XV squad was announced mid-week.

Japan XV captain Mamoru Harada (the hooker played with the Moana Pasifika in the Super Rugby Pacific this season) told Japanese media, “I want to contribute to the team by putting my body on the line. First and foremost, winning the match is our top priority. I want to give it my all and contribute to the team.”

He added, “I think the set pieces will be important. I want to help the younger players by ensuring stability in the lineouts and dominating the scrums.”

The selected team is a mixture of newcomers and some experienced Brave Blossoms players, notably centre Dylan Riley (38 caps), prop Shuhei Takeuchi (24 caps), and flanker Koji Shimokawa (23 caps).

Neil Hatley, who coaches the team as Eddie Jones serves a suspension, said, “This is a team that mixes experienced players with young talent.” He singled out the players who have come through the JAPAN TALENT SQUAD program (JTS) as “members with great potential.” Four University players are in the matchday squad.

Hatley added, “We’ve put a lot of thought into this selection, and we’re really pleased with the makeup of the team. There are some guys who haven’t played for a while, some who played in the League One playoffs and others who played for the Japan Select against Hong Kong China.

This is a chance for these guys who have been working hard to get an opportunity to play, and we think it’s our best team in terms of winning the game on the weekend. There is a good mix of experienced players, alongside some guys who did a great job in the Japan Talent Squad programme. It’s a really great opportunity for these young players.”

Eleven players will represent Japan for the first time, and 27-year-old fullback Takuro Matsunaga from Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo is the vice-captain.

The match will take place at Paloma Mizuho Stadium, which is a modern covered stadium with approximately 30,000 seats and was reopened earlier in 2026 following 5 years of renovations. The stadium will also be the main venue for the “20th Asian Games/5th Asian Para Games” in 2026.

UPDATE:

The JRFU have said, “Currently, Typhoons 7 and 8 are approaching, but at this time, we plan to hold the event as scheduled. We are prioritising safety while gathering weather information, but we will provide further updates regarding whether the match will be held by 8:00 PM on Friday, June 26th (Japan time).”

Brave Blossoms Test Schedule 2026

2026 Māori All Blacks Squad vs Japan XV

More about the selected squad can be seen here.

Starting XV

Ollie Norris (Ngāpuhi)
Tyrone Thompson (Ngaii Tāmanuhiri, Ngāti Rangiwewehi)
Marcel Renata (Ngāti Whanaunga)
Laghlan McWhannell (Ngāti Kahungunu)
Tahlor Cahill* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Pikiao and Ngāti Raukawa)
Te Kamaka Howden (Tūhoe)
Jahrome Brown (Ngāti Porou)
Torian Barnes* (Ngāti Whātua)
Adam Lennox* (Ngāti Kūia, Ngāti Raukawa)
Rivez Reihana (Ngāpuhi, Ngāi Tahu, Ngāti Hine)
Reon Paul* (Ngāpuhi, Ngāti Porou)
Xavi Taele (Ngāi Tahu)
Bailyn Sullivan (Ngāti Kahungunu) – captain
Payton Spencer* (Ngāti Kahungunu, Mūaupoko)
Cole Forbes (Ngāti Awa)

Reserves

Jacob Devery (Te Aitanga a Mahaki)
Pouri Rakete-Stones (Ngāpuhi)
Benet Kumeroa (Te Atihaunui a Pāpārangi)
Caleb Delany (Ngāti Tūwharetoa)
Nikora Broughton (Ngārauru, Ngāti Ruanui)
Sam Nock (Ngāpuhi)
Taha Kemara (Te Whānau a Apanui, Te Whakatōhea)
Kyle Brown* (Waikato)

*Denotes Māori All Blacks debut

2026 Māori All Blacks Squad vs Japan XV

Japan XV Squad vs Maori All Black 2026

You can see more of the squad from the JRFU here.

The matchday 23 includes 11 uncapped players and seven with just 10 caps or fewer. Three players have more than 20 caps. Four uncapped players are drawn from Japan’s university competition.

Starting XV
1. Takato Okabe (Yokohama Canon Eagles – 8 caps)
2. Mamoru Harada (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo – 12 caps) – Captain
3. Shuhei Takeuchi (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath – 24 caps)
4. Esei Haangana (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights 0 caps) – *left the team after the season
5. Michael Stöberg (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo – 0 caps)
6. Koji Shimokawa (Tokyo Suntory Sungoliath – 23 caps)
7. Tienan Costley (Kobelco Kobe Steelers – 11 caps)
8. Waisake Lalatubua (Kobelco Kobe Steelers – 5 caps) *left the team after the season
9. Takuro Hojo (Mie Honda Heat – 0 caps)
10. Ryunosuke Ito (Meiji University – 0 caps)
11. Inoke Bulua (Kobelco Kobe Steelers – 0 caps)
12. Lee Ji-soo (Korea University – 0 caps)
13. Dylan Riley (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights – 38 caps)
14. Kazuma Ueda (Kobelco Kobe Steelers -2 caps)
15. Takuro Matsunaga (Toshiba Brave Lupus Tokyo – 5 caps) (Vice Captain)

Reserves
16. Kenji Sato (Saitama Panasonic Wild Knights – 9 caps)
17. Sojiro Otsuka (Kwansei Gakuin University – 0 caps)
18. Izzy Sword (Kubota Spears Funabashi Tokyo Bay – 0 caps)
19. Takeuchi 20. Makoto (Urayasu D-Rocks – 0 caps)
21. Aseli Masiwow (Mie Honda Heat – 0 caps)
22. Haruto Watanabe (Kindai University – 0 caps)
23. Sam Green (Shizuoka Blue Revs – 6 caps) – *left the team after the season
24. Taira Main (Ricoh Black Rams Tokyo – 1 cap)